ATKINS — The Atkins School Board approved usage policies Tuesday for 350 Levono X131E laptop computers ordered recently for the 1:1 Initiative program that will be implemented in August.

The laptop computers will run on Microsoft Windows 7 and will be equipped with Microsoft Office 10, according to Atkins School District technology coordinator Jason Ezell.

The handbook addresses several important laptop computer use policies that, although are general in characteristic, are no less vital to the program.

The handbook states each computer supplied to a student will come with an optional but recommended insurance policy. The insurance will carry a $50 deductible should a laptop computer be damaged, lost or stolen, and will cover up to the cost of a new laptop.

Without the insurance policy, should a laptop computer be damaged, the student will be liable for the entire cost of the laptop computer, plus any further damages.

Another policy discussed in the handbook is a basic set of guidelines referenced as “netiquette.” Atkins superintendent Mark Gotcher said it’s a modern term for the basic rulebook of good manners when using the Internet.

“Netiquette is a fun term that encourages people to be polite in the use of language and social devices while on the Internet,” Gotcher said. “These are state funded computers, so it is important to ensure that the computers are being used properly.”

Much like the “netiquitte” policy, another policy discusses the required code of conduct.

“The code of conduct is very similar to netiquitte,” Gotcher said. “Basically, it encourages kids to take pride in their communication and to make sure that they are always polite and respectful when using electronic communication and that they are not wasting educational time to play around on the computers. If kids want to do that, they can do so on their own time. I want them to take this program seriously.”

Along with the previous two policies, the handbook acknowledges cyberbullying, or the mistreatment of peers via the Internet, and states the Atkins School District has a no-tolerance policy on cyberbullying.

The laptops, while in the school, will run through the Atkins School District security system. As required through the Child Internet Protection Act (CIPA), the school carries and controls an Internet security filter that blocks out any website data that contains or references such items as peer-to-peer connections and anything violent or sexual in nature.

Should the parents sign the agreement that gives the student permission to take the computer home after school, the school carries the option to still require that the computer be run through the Internet security filter.

“We hold the rights to the computers,” Gotcher said. “At any time, we could pick a random computer or more and we could pull a check on its use history. If we find that a student is using the laptop computer for anything that we deem as being negative or against our policies, we will deal with that situation at that time.”

The superintendent said the handbook provides a policy referred to as a “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) policy, which allows a student to bring his or her electronic device to school in place of the provided laptop computer.

“Say for example that I wanted to bring my MacBook to class,” Gotcher said. “If my teacher approves it for class use only, then I can bring it to class and log into the proper source.”

The Atkins School District will continue to make adjustments as necessary for the 1:1 Initiative program.

Beginning in August, the program will be implemented into only one high school grade level. Atkins hopes to expand the program schoolwide in the future.